Department of Classics
Classics is the study of the languages, literature, physical remains, society and culture, and history of Greco-Roman civilization.
The study of Classics aspires to enlarge, preserve and transmit precise and detailed knowledge and understanding of the ancient civilizations which continue to exert a central influence on modern society. Since it involves the study of entire cultures, Classics, by its very nature, requires an interdisciplinary body of knowledge and the rigorous application of several investigative methodologies.
Xavier's program focuses primarily upon literature and language. These pillars stand at the center of this discipline, and they are the sine qua non for further study of any of the specialized aspects of classical antiquity. More importantly, they infuse the undergraduate student with the words and contexts of many of the world's greatest writers and thinkers, broadening and deepening the understanding of the uniqueness and ethical ubiquity of human experience.
The goal is to free the student from the narrow constraints of a provincialism in formed only by one time frame and one place by providing the kinds of timeless insights and knowledge which should assist one's judgment and give moral credence to a comparative and a critical evaluation of contemporary society.
Through a close reading of ancient authors in the original language, the A.B. degree in Classicsis designed to bring students into close contact with the world of the Romans and Greeks focusing upon their thoughts, their concerns, and solutions proposed by the ancients to problems that still bedevil the modern world.
1 From Homer to Plato
This course provides an understanding of the development of ancient Greek culture and history by examining the values, customs, institutions, and major historical events that shaped the Greek world, in particular Athens and Sparta, through primary and secondary source readings. An important goal is togain insight into the Greek origins of key social, political, and cultural ideas and concepts that have contributed to the formation of Western civilization.
2 The Dead Sea Scrolls
To introduce undergraduates to the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS), their history, their (mis-?) representation in the popular media, the scandal surrounding them, what English translations of them are available, and what is currently being done with them.
3 World Mythology
The western tradition will be examined through in-depth comparative studies of classical mythology with the mythologies of the world (myths from but not limited to Asia, Central, South, and North America, Africa, the Near East, and Polynesia). This course emphasizes understanding mythologies as symbolic cultural systems expressing societal values.
4 Women in Antiquity
A multi-media study of the lives of Greek and Roman women and minorities organized around topics and issues of contemporary interest.